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St. Croix County businesses awarded at EDC banquet

Next Generation Auto (Small Business of the Year) owners Shawn Kline and Jeremy Austrum, St. Croix EDC past president Rob O'Keefe, iMark Molding (Business of the Year) operations manager Steve Schmidt and St. Croix Valley Blow Molding (Emerging Business of the Year) owner Jim Bradac gathered after the 2018 Business of the Year awards banquet at Ready Randy's. Mike Longaecker / RiverTown Multimedia1 / 5

Next Generation Auto co-owners Shawn Kline and Jeremy Austrum accepted the award for Small Business of the Year. The Baldwin-based business was launched in 2011. "Without our community and the people who supported us, there's no way we'd be here," Kline said during the Feb. 21 St. Croix EDC awards banquet. Mike Longaecker / RiverTown Multimedia2 / 5

iMark Molding operations manager Steve Schmidt accepted the 2018 St. Croix EDC Business of the Year award on behalf of owners Mark and Linda Sturtevant. St. Croix EDC past president Rob O'Keefe joined Schmidt for the award presentation Feb. 21 at Ready Randy's. Mike Longaecker / RiverTown Multimedia3 / 5

St. Croix Valley Blow Molding owner Jim Bradac held his 2018 Emerging Business of the Year award with pride during the Feb. 21 St. Croix EDC Business of the Year awards banquet. "It just feels so good to work real hard and to see the rewards and achievements hard work can bring," he said as St. Croix EDC Executive Director Bill Rubin (left) looked on. Mike Longaecker / RiverTown Multimedia5 / 5

The St. Croix Economic Development Corp. handed out its top honors for local businesses during a Feb. 21 event at Ready Randy's in New Richmond.

The 2018 Business of the Year award was given to iMark Molding of Woodville. The 2018 Small Business of the Year was Baldwin-based Next Generation Auto. The 2018 Emerging Business of the Year award was given to town of Hudson-based St. Croix Valley Blow Molding.